Folding chair.



F. BLANDO.

FOLDING CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1918.

1,291,737, Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Inventor.

FRANK BLANDO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Original application filed July 12, 1916, Serial No. 108,871.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Divided and this application filed May 14, 1918.

Serial No. 234,391.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK BLANDO, a subjectof the King of Italy, residing at New York, in the county and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingChairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and has for its object toprovide an improved Structure which may be folded compactly and carriedlike a satchel or suitcase, and which may be unfolded and used as achalr. A special object is to rovide improved and simplified means for'olding the legs of the chair compactly when not in use, and forretaining them in unfolded position when used as a chair. Thisapplication is a division of application filed July 12, 1916, Ser. No.108,871.

Theinvention will be first hereinafter described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, andthen more specifically defined 1n the claims at the end of thedescription.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters areused to designate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsFigure 1 is a perspective view of the device folded into approximatelythe compass of an ordinary suitcase.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device partly opened orunfolded.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device arranged as a steamer chair,and

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspectlve view of a means for locking the legs inunfolded position.

The structure comprises essentially a seat frame 1, a back frame 2hinged at 3 to the rear edge of the seat frame, legs 4 foldably arriedby the seat frame, a foot supporting frame 5 hinged to the front edge ofthe seatframe, and an inclosing frame 6 also hinged to the rear edge ofthe seat frame and designed to cover the legs when the structure 'isfolded up into compact form as shown in Fig. 1.

The legs 4 are joined together in front and rear pairs, both pairshinged at 7 to the under face of the seat frame, the two front legsswinging together and the two rear legs swinging together. The frontlegs are spaced farther apart than the rear legs in order to permit thelatter to fold between the former as best shown in Fig. 2. A pair ofbracing links 8 and 9 connects each of the rear legs to the front leg onthe same side, the link 8 being pivoted to the upper end of the rearleg, the link 9 pivoted to the lower end portion of the front leg andsaid links 8 and 9 being pivoted together at their other extremities, asat 10. The link 8 is longer than the link 9 to permit the former to foldfirst against the bottom of the seat frame, and the link 9 to afterwardswing about on the pivot 10 so as to overlap the adjacent end portion ofthe link 8. To further brace the legs in unfolded position a pair oflinks 11 and 12 are arranged on each side, the link 11 being pivoted tothe lower end portion of the rear leg, the link 12 being pivoted to thelinks 8 and 9 at 10, and said links 11 and 12 being pivoted together attheir other ends as at 13. This pivoted connection 13 is preferablyformed by a rod 14: extending across from one pair of links 11 and 12 atone side of the chair to the corresponding pair of links on the otherside of the chair, so thatboth sets of links 11 and 12 may be folded orunfolded together.

Shoulders 15 on the lower end portions of the rear legs serve as stopsfor limiting the downward swing of the links 11 at a point where thepivotal connection 13 between said links 11 and the links 12 is belowthe line determined by the pivot point 10 and the point of connection ofthe link 11 to the rear leg. The links 11 and 12 will thus be supportedin a slight downwardly broken position when the legs are unfolded asshown in Fig. 3, in which position they will be normally held by gravityuntil it is desired to fold up the structure. To hold the links 8 and 9in extended position, a swinging frame 16 is pivoted to the upper endsof the front legs and carries a cross piece 17 having notches 18 adaptedto snap into supplemental notches 19 in the links 8. When the notches 18and 19 are engaged, as shown in Fig. 3, the bracing links 8 and 9 willbe positively retained in extended position and the legs held rigidlyopen or 1111? folded.

The foot supporting frame 5 folds flat on top of the seat frame when notin use, as fully disclosed in application Ser. No. 108,871 abovementioned. When said foot supporting frame is swung out on its hinges21, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the pillow 20 may be used either as acushion or as a head rest, The free end of the frame 5 is equipped withfolding supports 22 which may be retained in folded position by springclips 23.

Arms 4-1 are hinged at 42 to the back frame 2, and are connected to theseat frame 1 by straps 43 hinged at 4. to the under faces of the arms,and at 4:5 to the upper face of the seat frame, said straps and armsforming parallelograms with the seat and back frames so that the armswill be automatically folded or unfolded when the back frame is swungupon its hinges 3. The front end portions of the side pieces of theframe 1 are beveled or inclined, as shown at 4 6, and the rear endportions of the arms are c0rrespondingly beveled, as at 47, to permitsaid arms to fold into the plane of theseat frame, thus making the.structure more compact when. folded.

The inclosing frame 6 is, connected to the bottom of the seat frame by.double hinges 48 which permit it to be swung into folded position sothat, blocks 49, carried by the hinged end of said frame and otherblocks 50 carried by the free end thereof: may fill out the spaces. atopposite ends of the folded legs 4, see Fig. 1, and to also permit saidframe 6 to be swung upward so as. to lie against the rear face of theback frame 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The frame 6 may be secured inthe latter position by suitable fastening means indicated at 52, Fig. 2,and fully described in application Ser. No. 108,871 hereinbeforementioned.

The extension frame 38 is rule-jointed to the free end of the back frame2 by meansof the hinges 57 arranged on the inner faces of said frames.Thesehinges permit the extension'frame to be folded at right angles tothe back frame when the device, is folded up, or to be extended in linewith said back frame when the device is unfolded. When the device isfolded up as shown in Fig. 1', the inclosing frame 6 covers the underside of the seat frame and conceals the folded legs, While the backframe 2 covers the top of the seat frame. The extension frame 38connects the back frame 2 to the inclosing frame 6 and, covers the frontedgeof the seat. frame. Said extension. frame is. fasr tened in foldedposition by means of keepers 56 thereon engaging the fastening devicesindicated at 52 in Fig. 2. The frames 2, 6 and 38 are preferablycoveredon the outside by suitable waterproof material 61 which also extendsalong the double hinges 48so as to cover the rear edge of the seatframe. This waterproof covering may be made of one piece extending fromthe free end of-the frame 6 alongsaid frame, acrossthe rear edge of theseat frame, alongtheback frame and across the extension frame, so thatwhen the device is folded. it will have the appear.- ance of a sultcas'eor traveling bag.

" o er nd port on o h first Pai f e A. handle 62 is secured to one sidepiece of the seat frame for carrying the device when folded; As anadditional means of securing the structure in folded position, a strap63 may be fastened around it, as shown in Fig. l, said strap beingpreferably passed below the handle 62. It will be understood, of course,that the backframe, seat frame'and foot supporting frame are covered onthe inside with canvas or other suitable material 65. The free end oftheframefi may be provided with av handlebar 69 for convenience in.foldingv orunf oldingi the device.

Having thus, described my invention, wha I claim asv new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of, the United; statesisre 1. In av foldingchair the combination with a seat frame, of legs carried thereby, andadapted: to fold in. pairs, pivoted links connecting the. upper end,portions of one pair. of legswith. the lower end. portions. of the otherpair, other links connecting the pivotal; points. of the first links,With the lower end. portionsof the first pair of legs, shoulders; onthefirst legs, to serve. as, stops for the second; links, and means forholding the, first links extended.

2. In a folding hai e com ination wi h e t. f m of legs. carr ed. theeby, and adapted to fold in pairs, pivoted, links connecting, the upperend; portions of; one pair of legswith. t e wer end pon ioesef the otherpair, other. links, connecting the pivotal pointsof. the, first links,th lower end portions. Qf theiirst pai of,' legs, and means for holdingthe first, links, extended. v

n. a old ng ain the olnb eatien with a seat frame, of legs carried theb. and. adapted to fold; in. pairs, piyoted, links nn c ng. h upp r nd.POIEt QIls f .1 s pair of legs with the lower-end, portions of he the pr her. inks. nheet he the Pivotal p int f. the irst L ks. w th? h and aframe pivoted to theupperaendl portions of, the second pair. of legs-andadapted o 9 he r t nk t h a 4.. In a folding chair the combination with,a seat frame, of, legs carriedthereby, a pted 9. fo d n; Pa s. r etlinks n c nghe upp r, end Pa ts of ne Pair l With h e ies nd pe ionsiothe other oair, other links connecting the pivotal points of the.- fi-rst links. with the lowerend portions ofgthe firstfpairnof legsl,shoulderson the first legs to s envefas stops r h o d nks and a fr mepivo o the upper end portions of the second pair of legsancl adapted. tohold the, first linkslex tended. f

n. a din hair h qmb nati with a seat frame, of legs carried, thereby,and adapted. to fold in pairs, pivoted links connecting the upper, endportions of; one 1,30

pair of legs with the lower end portions of the other pair, other linksconnecting the pivotal points of the first links with the lower endportions of the first pair of legs, a frame pivoted to the upper endportions of the second pair of legs and adapted to hold the first linksextended, there being interengaging notches in said frame and firstlinks for retaining said frame in operative position.

6. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of legs carriedthereby, and adapted to fold in pairs, pivoted links connecting thepivotal points of the first links with the lower end portions of theother pair, other links connecting the pivotal points of the first linkswith the lower end portions of the first pair of legs, a frame pivotedto the upper end portions of the second pair of legs, and adapted tohold the first links extended, and means for retaining said frame inengagement with the first links.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK BLANDO.

Copies of this pltent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe commissioner of Patentl, Washington, D. 0."

